Patrick van Aanholt says he left Sunderland because David Moyes’ training methods caused him to fall out of love with the game.

In January the Dutch left-back forced through a move to Crystal Palace – two years after he claims their ten-manager Alan Pardew tapped him up during a match.

Van Aanholt left for £14m in Janauary, but only, he says, after three or four attempts to force a move away. He says he wanted to leave because of Moyes’ approach to training.

“I did not enjoy David Moyes’ training sessions,” said van Aanholt, who had a loan spell at Newcastle United from first club Chelsea. “Eventually I lost my love for the game, and went into the dressing-room feeling annoyed every day.

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“When Sunderland turned down an offer for me from Crystal Palace I went to see Moyes in his office three or four times.

“I was angry. I told him: ‘Accept Palace’s bid and just let me leave - it is the best thing for all concerned.’

“But he said that he wanted to keep hold of me.”

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Van Aanholt’s departure funded the double signing of fellow left-back Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson from Everton. The 26-year-old is still Sunderland’s second-highest goalscorer in this season’s Premier League - level with Victor Anichebe on three goals. They and Jermain Defoe are the only players to have scored more than once for the Black Cats in the league this season.

The price of van Aanholt’s eye for goal was that he was not a very good full-back defensively, and when it was obvious he was so keen to leave, Moyes eventually decided it was in the club’s best interests to sell.

Palace were a relegation rival at the time but four consecutive wins are likely to keep them in the Premier League, whereas eight points adrift of safety with eight games to play, bottom-of-the-table Sunderland looked doomed to play in next season’s Championship.

It was Sam Allardyce who brought van Aanholt to Selhurst Park but the player says his predecessor Pardew – like Allardyce a former Newcastle manager – had shown an interest in signing him two years earlier – during a game!

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“I was playing for Sunderland when we were at home to Palace,” he said in an interview with The Sun. “Just as I was getting ready to take a throw-in Alan Pardew came along the touchline towards me and said: ‘Come and play for my team next year.’

“In the middle of a game, eh? I found that really funny. Then I told him: ‘OK, no problem.’”